Drilling structures



June 21, 1960 E. J. QUlRlN DRILLING STRUCTURES Filed Dec. 13, 1955INVENTOR. Edward J. Quirin 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fJM ATTORNG'V 3 Sheets-Sheet2 June 21, 1960 Filed Dec. 15, 1955 INVENTOR.

Edward J. Quirin Arro/a/VEV 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 13, 1955 FIG.6

INVENTOR. Edward J. Quinn DRILLING STRUCTURES Edward J. Quirin, 105Myrtle Drive, Great Neck, NY.

Filed Dec. 13, 1955, Ser. No. 552,841

'4 Claims. (Cl. til-46.5)

My invention is an improvement in structures to facilitate drilling intothe earth; particularly a structure for supporting apparatus andequipment adapted to bore for oil under a body of water.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an installationwhich can be located in water of greater or less depth, and besufliciently stable and independent of wave action to enable therequired operations to be performed with elficiency and dispatch.

Another object is to provide a drilling structure having an adjustableworking platform that can easily be lifted, and then held at a selectedlevel as long as may be necessary.

A further object is to provide a drilling structure carrying buoyant andstabilizing members connected to the platform and cooperating therewithto locate the platform at proper distance above the surface of thewater, Where it can be maintained as long as operations are continued,and while the structure is shifted from one drilling site to another.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a structure havingbuoyant members with suflicient displacement to float the entirestructure on the surface of a body of water, so that it can beconveniently towed to the site of intended use; and having connectionsby which the flooding of said members can be controlled to sink andembed them in the bottom under the water, and thus ensure a firmfoundation for the structure While the work of drilling is in progress.

Yet a further object is to provide a drilling structure having the abovementioned buoyant members and stabilizing members, with connections sothat when the working platform is once properly adjusted the stabilizingmembers can also be sunk below the surface, out of reach of wave action,and disposed so that they reinforce the effect of the flooded buoyantmembers in rendering the entire structure rigid and immovable on thefoundation thus produced.

Still another object is to provide connections for the stabilizing andbuoyant members of such a character that the buoyant members can beliberated from their embedded condition under the water and both thestabilizing and buoyant members then evacuated fully, so that the entirestructure will again float free on the surface and can be towed toanother site for further use; the stabilizing members then maintainingthe platform above the surface of the water, so that the towing of thestructure is facilitated.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of my invention are clearlyset forth in the ensuing description and the novel characteristics aredefined in the appended claims. On the drawing, some preferredembodiments of the structure are illustrated, but variations in manyrespects may be adopted without omission or material-alteration of anyof the features by which the invention is distinguished.

On said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a structure according to my invention;

, 2,941,369 Patented June 21, 1960 Figure 2 is a top plan thereof;

Figure 3 shows a detail of the machinery for raising the workingplatform in the structure;

Figure 4 shows another detail thereof;

Figure 5 shows a modified structure;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the lower end of said modifiedstructure;

Figure 7 shows a modification of the construction of the buoyancymembers; and I Figure 8 shows another modification of the buoyancymembers.

The structure is generally square in plan, and comprises four uprighttowers 1, a tower being at each corner; and at the base or lower end ofeach is a hollow member in the shape of buoyant caisson 2. Rising fromeach caisson and affixed thereto are several columns 3, preferably fourin number, each group of columns enclosing a square space within thecompass thereof. The caissons 2 are to be anchored to the earth 4.Supported by the towers to move up or down, is an adjustable platform 6which is connected to a buoyant stabilizing tank 7 in each of thetowers 1. At the top of each tower is a deck 8 made fast to the upperends of the columns 3.

The columns 3 and decks 8 are parts of the towers 1 and chain 9 on eachtower is joined to the platform 6 at one end and to a motor-driven winch10 on the deck 8 of the tower at the other, passing from the winch downover an idle pulley 11 on the platform and up over another idle pulley11 on the deck and down to the platform again, where it is fastened at apoint 12. Another length of chain 13 in each tower runs from the winch10 down through the stabilizing tank 7 in the tower to an idle pulley"14 mounted on the caisson 2, up to a similar idle pulley 14 on the sametank 7, down again to a third idle pulley 14 on the same caisson 2 andfinally up to the said tank 7 again where it is made fast at a point 15.The stabilizing tanks or members 7 are hollow, but have tubular passages16 extending through them from top to bottom in which the chains 13 canmove as each tank 7 rises or falls. The winches operate the chains andthe platform 6 and four hollow bodies or tanks 7 rise or fall in unison.There is of course a winch 10 with chains 9 and 113 on each tower; andthese winches, as described below, merely take up or let out the chains9 and 13.

The columns 3 pierce the caissons 2 from top to bottom and are sealed inthe caissons 2, having no communication with the interiors thereof. Thecolumns 3 are tubular and open through and through. The caissons aresunk far enough in the bottom 4 to be securely embedded by the action ofstreams of water delivered to pipes 19 in the lower portions 17 of thecolumns 3 by pumps 20 mounted on the caissons 2. The pumps are driven bymotors 21 on the decks 8 connected to the pumps 20 by shafts 22. Thejets delivered by the pipes 19 wash away the ground under the caissonsand the towers thus settle into position at the drilling site in thewell known way. For convenience the caissons are shown mostly in outlineand the decks 8 with winches, motors and pulleys are omitted from Figure2. The action of water jets from the pipes 19 is generally sufficient toembed the caissons at the location selected.

The columns 3 are at the corners of each tank 7, which are shown assquare in cross section, and these corners to the upper beams byvertical braces 28 between the towers and diagonal braces 29 joining oneextremity of each upper beam 27, to the opposite extremity of a lowerbeam 27 directly beneath. Each lower beam 27 is united at the junctionof each vertical brace 28 therewith by braces 30' to the adjacentcaisson 2. Also the beams 27 are stiffened by horizontal trussescomprising transverse brace bars 31 and diagonal brace-bars 32 connectedto each pair of upper and lower beams 27 at the junctions of thevertical braces 28 therewith; and connected to all inside beams 27 atthe junctions of all vertical braces 28 therewith are the diagonalhorizontal braces 33, which join each upper and lower inside beam 27along any two opposite sides of the structure to the upper and lowerbeams 27, respectively, of the other two sides of the structure. The topbeams 27 are at such a height above the caissons 2 as to be close to orbelow the level of the water 34 when the structure rests on the bottom4, because the platform 6 then is always a predetermined distance, suchas 30 feet, for example, above the surface 34. The vertical fenders 28of course engage the columns 3.

The platform as shown extends from one pair of towers 1 to the other,and projects at both ends. It can be lowered to be near the upper beams27 and upper braces 33 and raised up almost to the level of the decks 8.Under the platforms near the ends are transverse lifting girders 35, aseparate pair being at each end, the girders of each pair being farenough apart, with extremities projecting to flank each of the towers 1.

The platform 6 can therefore be lifted and lowered, with the towers 1always between the ends of adjacent girders 35. These girders are fullyshown in Figure 2 but the platform 6 appears diagrammatically on Figurel, in lowered position.

One end of the platform has a central recess or bay 36. A derrick can beerected on a bridge on the platform 6 spanning the recess 36, to carrythe drilling line that penetrates the ground. A mean 37 spans thegirders 35 to mount the lower pulleys 11 and a similar beam on top ofeach tank 7 near passage 16 therein mounts the pulley 14 thereon, andthe decks 8 will have openings through which the chains 9 and 13 maymove up and down. For convenience, decks 8 are not shown in Figure 2.

As indicated on Figure 3, each winch as it turns to pull up on its chain9, allows the adjacent part of its other chain 13 to move down; and whenthe winch turns to let the platform move down, it will pull up on thechain 13 and the tanks 7 will move down. Each chain 9 may be connectedadjacent the tops of the towers to the adjacent chain 13. When thestructure is towed to' the site, the hollow lower members or caissons 2act as pontoons and the entire structure floats and mo'vesalong with thetops of the pontoons above the water surface; The pontoons are'filledwith air that can be pumped in through a hose or flexible pipe line 38,connected to the upper part of each pontoon and to a fixed couplinghaving a-cap 39 on the deck of the platform 6.- When the cap is removedair can be forced into each pontoon by connecting the coupling to a pumpor reservoir, or allowed toescape through the line'38. In each pontoonis an openconduit 40 that leads from a point near the bottom to anopening or port 40 in the side of the pontoon near the top and below thewater line when the entire structure is afloat. When the structure is intransit, water cannot enter the pontoons through the conduits 40 andports 40, because of the pressure of the air in the pontoons, but whenit arrives at the site to be explored, the lines 38 are opened and theair in the pontoons is released, and water will flow into them throughthe conduits 4t and ports 40, and they will submerge.

While the structure is being towed to the place of use, both theplatform 6 and the tanks-7 are in lowermost position, the tanks 7resting on the tops of the pontoons 2. When the air lines 38 areuncapped,- water enters the caissons 2 and floods them and'the entirestructure then sinks till the caissons rest on the bottom 4.. At thesame time the tanks 7, which are hollow and filled with air, are buoyedup by the water and exert a strong pull on all the chains 13, to liftthe platform high enough to be out of reach of big waves. The winchesare rotated to wind and unwind the chains thereon. Hence the winches andmotors can be small and very little power is needed. In fact the motorsfor the winches 10 are employed merely to adjust the chains and keep theplatform level. The caissons are settled and embedded in the ocean flooror bottom 4 by the Wight of the structure and the excavating jetsdelivered by the pipes 19, loosening the earth under the caissons. Theearth settles when the pumps are stopped.

The pumps 20 can be" operated fast enough to fill the hollow columns 3,up to most of the height of the towers and then less power is needed atthe motors 21 because the static head of the water in the columns 3 addsto the force of the jets at the lower ends of the pipes 19.

After the structure is sunk the tanks 7 must be submerged to avertdisturbing wave action. The winches have projections 41 as on a sprocketwheel, to enter the links of the chains and are locked by dogs 42engaging the chains so that the platform is maintained by the chains inelevated position. Then a workman descends by means of a rope or ladder(not shown) from the platform 6 to each tank 7. He places a hook 43under the chain 13 at the pulley 14 on each tank, the' hooks beingattached to the ends of rope 44 made fast to the platform 6. Eachworkman then opens a valve 45 closing a port in the bottom of the tank,this being done by grasping and turning a knob 46 on a rod 47 whichpasses up through a threaded bearing in the top of the tank. The tanksnow fill with water and sink till they reach the caissons 2. At thisjuncture the chains 13 are slack because of their disengagernent fromthe uppermost pulleys 14 and do not hinder the tanks 7 as they sinkbelow the water line 34, the chains having been pulled off the toppulleys by the ropes 44 and hooks 43.

Each tank 7 also has an air inlet line 49 leading from its top to acapped coupling 50 on the platform 6. This line will beopened when thetanks are to be submerged to release the air in the tanks and permitwater to enter freely past the valves 45.

All the tanks and pontoons are so equipped but only one is so shown inFigure 1 at the right.

Whenever the drilling is finished or the structure is to be removed toanother site, the pumps 20 are operated to force water into the bottom 4below the caissons 2, to loosen the earth, and free the caissons. Air isforced through the pipe lines 38 to expel the water through the conduits40 and ports 40' and the caissons again become buoyant pontoons and tendto rise to the surface. Air is also forced through the lines 49 to expelthe water past the open valves 45 from the tanks 7, which also becomebuoyant, and the entire structure is soon afloat again. As soon asthetanks 7 come up, so that their tops are above water, the chains 13 areagain disposed over the upper pulleys 14 and the valves 45 are closed.This operationcan best be performed by causing the tanks 7 to risebefore the caissons 2 are raised, and replacing the chains 13 upon theupper pulleys 14. The chains are then re leased from the dogs 42. Thenas water is forced out of the caissons 2,- and the caissons rise, thechains 13 allow the platform to sink to the dotted line position inFigure l, but the tanks 7 hold the chains 9 and 13 taut through winches10, and control the platform 6 as it descends; the tanks 7 then servingto some extent as counterweights for the platform 6. In its lowermostposition the chains can again be locked by the dogs 42.'

When the tanks 7 and caissons 2 are fully afloat, the tanks rest againon the caissons 2, so that the structure is stable, with the platform atthe level shown by the dash lines'in Figure 1, when under way.

The machinery for operating the drilling line will of course be. mountedon the platform 6, with means" for coupling it to the derrick which willbe erected on a bridge spanning the recess 36 on the platform 6; andwhen the platform is raised and the tanks 7 are all submerged; only thepiles 3 which form the towers, open on all sides, are exposed to thewaves, and the combined lateral surface of the columns 3 present issmall. Hence the structure will be steady in all kinds of weather andthe risk of damage by storm is virtually eliminated.

Obviously the chains indicated at 9 and 13 may be continuous chains fromthe tanks 7 to the winches 10 and the platform 6. They pass over thewinches and are held by the sprocket projections 41. With a continuouschain extending from the platform over the upper pulleys and to thewinch, then down to the pulleys on the caisson and to the stabilizingtank just above each caisson, and fixed to this tank, several portionsor sections shown at 9 and the several portions or sections shown at 13are merely different sections or lengths of the same chain, as will beunderstood.

The structure above described is especially well adapted to be erectedat sites where there is a relatively soft bottom under the water. Henceit is advantageous to extend the vertical sides of the caissons 2downward below the underside of the caissons to form a rim or skirt 52all around each caisson. The caissons then sink into the bottom moreeasily as the water discharged by the pumps 20 takes effect.

The platform may be so managed and operated that when the structure isfloating on the surface the platform will be at a desired height abovethe water; and as the structure is sunk the buoyant action of the tankswill be so exerted as to raise and keep the platform at the samerequired distance above the water, even as it is moved towards the topsof the towers.

Each caisson 2 has a conduit 40a, open at both ends, going through fromtop to bottom and sealed from the interior, so that mud and waterstirred up by the jets 19 can escape from the space surrounded by therim 52.

If desired, the hollow columns or piles 3 can be joined in the caissons2 by branch pipes 54 leading to a single nozzle 55 directly above theopening 40, and one or more pumps 20 may be connected to said nozzle bytheir discharge pipes 19'. See Figure 7. One pump might also be usedwith the nozzle 55, mounted centrally within or without each caisson.This modification shows two conduits like the conduit 40, one at eachside of the central nozzle, indicated by numerals 40a and 40b.

Further, as shown in Figure 6, to anchor the caissons the towers can beequipped with guides 23 attached to the columns or piles 3, for stakes24. These stakes pass through tubular guideways 56 in the caissons andare driven into the bottom under the water by weights 25, which can beraised and dropped by mechanism (not shown) on the platforms 8 to hitthe upper ends of the stakes 24. The tubular guideways 56 are open atboth ends but are of course sealed off at both ends from the interior ofthe caissons 2. The stakes 24 are jointed wherever necessary, asindicated on Figure 6 adjacent to the guides 23, and are driven belowthe water surface 34 far enough to be left in place and their upper endsto be below the rims 52 of the caissons when the structure is freed fromits anchorage and floated, to be moved for use at another location. Thesides of the platform have recesses 6' to clear the stakes 24.

The motors 21 for the pumps 20 are of course supplied with electriccurrent through suitable conductors, and all the electric circuits forall motors can be controlled by switches and other necessary apparatusat a single panel on one of the platforms 8. The dog 42 may be mountedon a projection 42a, secured to a fixture 42b at any convenient point toengage the chains, as required.

In the modified construction of Figure 8, the caisson 2a has a concavebottom 57. On the interior is a pump 59, driven by an electric motor ina waterproof casing 61. The circuit wires 62 for the motor are encasedin a tubular sleeve 63 leading up to the deck 8. Of course there will befour such caissons, one at the foot of each tower 1. The pump dischargesthrough a conduit 64 leading to an outlet port in the inclinedperipheral portion 65 at the top of the caisson, and has an inlet pipe66 opening through the bottom of the caisson. The pump 59 draws up waterand mud loosened by the jets 19 and facilitates the sinking andembedding of the caissons on the bottom. This caisson may have aprojecting skirt 52 if desired. This caisson 2a also has a pipe 40inside extending from the lowest part of the bottom, which is closedexcept for the inlet pipe 66, up to the open port 40' in the side of thecaisson 2a just below the water line thereof, when the entire structureis afloat. The caissons 2a "always have some water in them and the lowerend of the pipe 40 is immersed in such water. When the structure isafloat the air under pressure in the caissons 2a, forced in through theline 38, prevents water, as before, from flowing in through the port 40'and pipe 40; and thus the caissons 2a are kept buoyant. To sink thestructure the compressed air in the caissons 2a is allowed to escapethrough the line 38, water then enters the caissons 2a by way of theports 40' and pipes 40, and the structure goes down till the caissons 2arest on the bottom, where they are embedded by'the action of the jets ofwater emitted by the pipes 19 as above described.

The pipes 40 in all the caissons have portions vertical above theirlower ends which are always covered by water at a low depth in thecaissons. Hence the water cannot enter the caissons when there issufficient pressure in them.

The structure illustrated in part on Figure 5 will also have airconnections including the lines 38 and 49, but are not shown in thisview.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

l. A structure to support equipment for boring into the earth under abody of water, comprising upright connected towers, means at the lowerends of each tower for securing said structure to the earth under thewater, a platform movably suspended on said structure above saidsecuring means and extending between the towers, vertically movablebuoyant stabilizing tanks one at each tower between said securing meansthereat and the platform, chains one at each tower, each chaincomprising sections joined end to end, each chain having a sectionaffixed at one end to an adjacent tank and leading from. said adjacenttank to said securing means at the adjacent tower, and movably engagingthe securing means at said adjacent tower, and then passing from saidsecuring means to a point on the adjacent tower above said platform, andat least one other section fixed to said platform and leading from theplatform to said point, and power means at each of said pointsoperatively engaging said last-named two sections, said power means andthe buoyancy of each tank being sufiicient to raise the platform abovethe water when the towers are lowered into the water.

2. A structure to support equipment for boring into the earth under abody of water, comprising upright connected towers, a member at thelower end of each tower for securing said structure to the earth underthe water, a platform movably secured to said structure above saidmembers and extending between said towers; vertically movable buoyantstabilizing tanks slidably mounted on said structure, one between eachof said members and said platform, a chain at each tower, each chaincomprising sections joined end to end, a section of each chain havingits lower end aflixed to the platform and extending upward to a point oneach tower, rotary power driven means at said point on each toweroperatively engaging the sections thereat, the remaining sections ofeach chain being afiixed to one of said tanks and movably engaging themember below it and extending up to said point and likewise operativelyengaged by said power means, so that upward movement of the tankstensions the chains, said power means and the buoyancy of said tanks assaid members are submerged being then sufficient to cause the chains tolift the platform above the surface of the water. 7 I

3. A structure to support equipment for boring into the earth under abody of water, corn-prising upright connected towers, a member at thelower end of each tower for securing said structure to the earth underthe water, a platform movably secured to said structure above saidmembers and extending between said towers; vertically movable buoyantstabilizing tanks slidably mounted on said structure, one between eachof said members and said platform, a chain at each tower, each chaincomprising sections joined end to end, one section of each chain havingits lower end affixed to the platform and extending upward to a point oneach tower, rotary power driven means at said point on each toweroperatively engaging said sections thereat, the remaining sections ofeach chain being atliired to one of said tanks and movably engaging themember below it and extending upward to said point, and operativelyengaged by said power means thereat, so that upward movement of thetanks tensions the chains, said power means and the buoyancy of saidtanks as said members are submerged being then suf ficient to cause thechains to lift the platform above the surface of the water, and a memberat a fixed point adjacent each of said towers having means for lockingsaid power means and holding the platform in desired position. 7 g

4. A structure to support equipment for boring into the earth tinder abody of water, comprising upright con nected towers, means at the lowerends of each of said towers for securing said structure to the earthunder the water, a platform movably suspended on said structure abovesaid securing means and extending between the towers, a verticallymovable buoyant stabilizing tank at each tower between said securingmeans thereat and the 3 platform, chains one at each tower, said chainscomprising sections joined; end to end, each chain having a sectionafiiXed' at one end to an adjacent tank,- and leading from adjacent tankto said securing means at the adjacent towerand movably engaging saidsecuring means at said adjacent tower, and then passing from saidsecuring means to a point on the adjacent tower above said plat form,and at least one other section fixed at one end to the platform andleading from the platform to said point, and pe'wer' means at each ofsaid points operativ'ely engaging said last-named sections thereat, saidpower means and the buoyancy of each tank being sufiicient to raisethe'plat'fo'r m abovethe water when the towers arelowered intotheiwate'r, means for admitting water to each of said securing means andtanks and air connections at the top as the" securing means and tanks toexpel said water.

Refeii'enr'es; (iitd in the file of this" patent UNITED STATES PATENTS112,525 Albertson 14, 1871 71 9,1711 Weindorf Sept. so, 1902 1 335 9 Hai n Q 92,0 24 7 rm ro u y 8, 9 1 2 ,399,656 Armstrong May 7, 19.462,430,014 Hansen Nov. 4, 1947 2 ,528,089" Siecke et all Oct. 31,2,580,911 Harris Jan. 1, 1952 2,589,146 Samuelson Mar. 11, 19522,602,300 counts July 8, 1952 2,652,693 Goldman etal Sept. 22, 19.53

7 2,653,353 Treitel Nov. 10, 1953,

2,755,632 Haubcr et a1 July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr.24, 1882'

